Sheriff Probes Daytime Burglaries
Rocky Smith
Sheriff Probes Daytime Burglaries
By David Howell
Editor
COFFEEVILLE – The sheriff’s department continues to investigate a pair of daytime burglaries near Coffeeville last week but few leads have surfaced. Sheriff Lance Humphreys reported guns, jewelry and televisions were stolen from a residence on County Road 211 and another residence on Hwy. 7, south of Coffeeville. The burglaries were reported on April 4 and 5.
“We have pursued lead after lead with no luck,” Humphreys told the Herald. “Our entire department has invested a lot of time on these cases and it is frustrating not to have a solid lead at this point.”
Work on the cases includes contacting pawn shops in neighboring counties, listening to street talk, leaning on informants for information and stepping up patrols to try and catch a break in these cases and deter the thieves from striking again. Humphreys also said numerous daytime burglaries that appear similar have been reported in Grenada County and his department has reached out to departments in neighboring counties for assistance.
Humphreys stressed one of the best assets for his department can be the eyes and ears of Yalobusha County residents.
“Watch out for your neighbors. If you see or hear anything suspicious, please call us,” the sheriff said. He also stressed the importance of recording serial numbers on valuable items.
“Write your numbers down and keep them somewhere in a safe place. If you have a camera, especially a camera phone, take pictures of the serial numbers and any distinguishing marks,” Humphreys added. The sheriff said anyone with information about these burglaries or any crime in the county to contact Yalobusha County Crime Stoppers. The organization will pay up to $1,000 for information about this crime. You can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-933-TIPS or 473-4935.
Tips can also be sent by email to: TIPS@ Yalobusha County.net. Crime Stoppers callers are never required to reveal their identity nor testify in court.
In an unrelated incident, Humphreys reported authorities are searching for Rocky S. Smith after he failed to re-register as a sex offender as required by state law. Sheriff Lance Humphreys reported Smith, age 34, last registered in December and is required to appear at a driver’s license station to re-register every 90 days.
Smith’s last address is listed as 7346 County Road 224, Water Valley, but the sheriff told the Herald his department has received information Smith may have left the state.
Humphreys said his department is working with the U.S. Marshals Service Sex Offender Tracking Team to locate Smith after a warrant was issued for the violation. Smith was convicted in 2001 in Putman, Mo., for child molestation. The sheriff said Smith will be brought back to the county when he is apprehended.
“We want to make sure each and every sex offender in the county registers every 90 days, as required by law,” Humphreys said, adding there are currently 38 sex offenders registered in the county, including Smith.
Residents can search for sex offenders in their area at the Mississippi sex offender website, sor.mdps.state.ms.us.
